Rabbis for Religious Freedom and Equality in Israel (RRFEI) supports and embraces religious pluralism within and beyond the Jewish community in Israel and the Diaspora.

RRFEI condemns in the strongest possible terms the desecration of the Kotel prayer space at Robinson’s Arch by Chief Rabbi Shlomo Amar for purpose of demonstrating that there is no room for egalitarian worship at the Kotel. We call upon Prime Minister Netanyahu and all responsible members of the coalition and opposition in the Knesset to condemn Rabbi Amar’s desecration of the holy site by using his presence at the site to instill hatred toward other Jews and to prevent such desecration from continuing.

We support the right of all Jews to pray, each in their way, according to their custom and understanding. We support the right of the Conservative/Masorti and Reform/Progressive Movements and all other Movements and prayer communities that wish to pray with men and women together. We equally support the right of Orthodox and Haredi Jews, Women of the Wall and all Jewish communities that wish to pray with the separation of men and women.

We stand in solidarity with our Reform and Masorti colleagues in Israel as they gather this Thursday for mincha in the Main Kotel Plaza.

We call upon Israeli security forces to move competently to prevent any threats of violence against this act of worship and political consciousness raising. We also invite everyone to witness this mixed gender worship through http://thekotel.org/kotel/kotel_cameras/

The prophet Isaiah heard God cry out: “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” Isaiah said, ”Here am I. Send me.“ While we believe that Thursday’s egalitarian mincha service in the Main Kotel Plaza is a fully justifiable act of civil disobedience and consciousness raising, we know that this worship service will not resolve the critically important issues surrounding religious equality and freedom in Israel.

We pray, however, that this public expression of outrage, carried out in a calm and respectful manner, can help to restore civility, democracy and integrity at one of Judaism’s most sacred sites.

What is RRFEI?

Rabbis for Religious Freedom and Equality in Israel is a trans-denominational network ​of rabbis, ​representing a broad spectrum of Jewish belief and practice​,​ who are united in advocating for the full realization ​of​ these values. RRFEI is a project of Hiddush.